The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) was passed by Congress and signed into law December 27, 2020, and is the second round of funding under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) during the coronavirus pandemic. The funding package provides aid to higher education students to cover components of cost of attendance and emergency costs associated with the coronavirus pandemic. The total award made to WPUNJ is $16,332,708. The total award amount includes $4,881,678 for student awards, and WPUNJ estimates that approximately 7,000 students are eligible to apply for emergency grants in this pool. The total also includes $11,445,097 for Institional costs and $5,933 in additional allocation towards a minority serving institution (MSI). The use of these funds will be in keeping with allowable costs as defined in CRRSAA Section 314(a)(1) for defraying expenses associated with coronavirus (including lost revenue, reimbursement for expenses already incurred, technology costs associated with transitions to distance education, staff and faculty training, and payroll), carrying out student support activities that address needs related to coronavirus and making additional financial aid grants to students. Status of Grants Distribution - Student Awards The HEERF II application process was closed at 11:59pm on 3/12/21 and awards processing was completed by 3/18/21. Applicant Category Number of Awards Maximum Amount of Award* Full Time Exceptional Need 2,461 $1,360 Full Time All Other 1,282 $890 Part Time Exceptional Need 637 $680 Part Time All Other 416 $445 *Awards made did not exceed total expense reported in student applications. Distribution of Funds to Students Students may apply for a HEERF II funding grant beginning February 19, 2021. All students who indicate eligible expense in the application form and submit the form by the final application due date will receive aid. The application period will be open from 2/19/2021 to 3/12/2021. Application Start Date Final Application Due Date Grant Payout or Credit Dates Amount of Funding to be Distributed Amount of Grant per Student HEERF II Awards 2/19/2021 11:59pm Friday 3/12/2021 Between 3/15/2021 – 3/24/2021 $ 4,881,678 $300-$900* * Funding will be awarded to the pool of students who have applied as of the Final Application Due Date, and all awards will be made at the same time (there will be no rolling award periods). If all eligible students apply, the per-student award amount is estimated to range between $300 and $900. Actual award amounts will be higher if fewer students apply than the currently estimated eligible pool. Actual award amounts will be limited to the actual amount of expense in the eligible categories that applicants report. Applicants who submit forms with no amount of expense will not receive an award. Unlike the CARES Act, the CRRSAA requires that institutions prioritize students with “exceptional need”. WPUNJ uses the FAFSA data point of Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as the indicator for exceptional need, whereby all students who are Pell eligible based on their EFC number are eligible for an award in the exceptional need category. This is an acceptable methodology for determination of exceptional need under the CRRSAA. Award Amounts There are four categories of award amounts: 1) full time and exceptional need; 2) full time and non-exceptional need; 3) part time and exceptional need; and 4) part time and non-exceptional need. The exceptional need award amounts are approximately 50% higher than non-exceptional need, and awards for part time students are approximately half of those for full time.
Eligibility To be eligible to receive a HEERF II award, the following must apply: Students must be enrolled in the spring 2021 semester, registered as of 2/18/21 Students must be matriculated (enrolled in a degree-seeking program) Students must have a completed 2020-2021 FAFSA and it must have been received by WPU by 02/18/2021 (used to determine “exceptional need” award recipients) Students enrolled in WP Online are eligible Full time and part time students are eligible “Exceptional need” is defined as demonstrating via the FAFSA an expected family contribution (EFC) number within the Pell eligible range. For the current academic year, that EFC range is 0-5,711. Student Application Process To apply for the HEERF II Emergency Grant, students must complete the application form by the final application due date of March 12, 2021
